“First Nations people have been calling for one thing and one thing only since the beginning and that’s truth telling,” he said.

“To change the date is to acknowledge the strength and resilience of our people, who have survived centuries of attempts to erase our culture,” she said.

In 2012, he chaired the NSW First Aboriginal Reconciliation Forum and was a member of the NSW Mental Health Committee Indigenous Leaders Forum.

Ken Zulumovski (first left) helps corporate leaders in the private, state and not-for-profit sectors set up reconciliation action plans. Credit: Ken Zulumovski

He says the way to satisfy everyone was to introduce the topic in a mature way, perhaps similar to former prime minister Kevin Rudd’s formal apology to the Stolen Generations in 2008.

“They have ability to guide, misguide and invest a lot of money into what kind of news Australia actually hears.”

‘It’s a celebration of modern Australia’

He said Australia Day represented national pride, unity and an opportunity to celebrate Australian history, diverse cultures and achievements.

Dennis Loether with the Maso Cup trophy. The soccer tournament is held very Australia Day weekend. Credit: Dennis Loether

He is president of a multicultural, diverse community soccer club in Sydney — Rockdale Ilinden FC — which hosts a friendly tournament (Maso Cup 2025) every year over the Australia Day long weekend.

If you need to reach out for support or to have a yarn, ring 13YARN or 139276. You can connect with a Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter on this number.